stevesbets

Read this

“In 2007, a 19-year-old gang-rape victim in the Saudi city of Qatif was sentenced to 200 lashes and six months in prison for meeting with an unrelated male.”

I have been asked by multiple people to blog about the tragedy in Haiti. Rather than offer my opinion, I would like to send you to a New York Times link that I totally agree with here

My favorite passage: Haiti, like most of the world’s poorest nations, suffers from a complex web of progress-resistant cultural influences. There is the influence of the voodoo religion, which spreads the message that life is capricious and planning futile. There are high levels of social mistrust. Responsibility is often not internalized. Child-rearing practices often involve neglect in the early years and harsh retribution when kids hit 9 or 10.

We’re all supposed to politely respect each other’s cultures. But some cultures are more progress-resistant than others, and a horrible tragedy was just exacerbated by one of them.

At the time that article was written 45-50k people had died from the earthquake, presently the death toll is around 150k. That is a devastating number for a fairly routine earthquake. I get depressed with humanity when I think that if people were a bit more intelligent and a bit less corrupt such tragedies could be substantially diminished. Thinking about human failures can twist my mind horribly and endlessly so I mostly just hope that people get lucky and horrors like this earthquake can be mostly avoided.

Hi Everyone,

It’s about that time again where I post another mailbag. As always these are real submissions from real readers all over the world (emails are bolded)

From Kristian:
i have one question… i see you now how you play pokerstar, 1vs1 with 2250$… and you almost always win, and, can you give me 5$? i will return your cash, and i will give same more cash… i have’t a credit card which should i have(i have masetrocard….

tnx in advance

Kristian, I am intrigued by both your offer of cash in exchange for the same more cash. As I learned in my contracts class last semester, this may be a valid binding contract but I have some concerns…oh wait that class was last semester…nevermind. What is a maestrocard?

From Jigger Jones:
Hi, Would you happen to know where I can get info such as: In Online Texas Holdem, whenever I get a king in the hole, an ace always falls on the board; why does three of the same suit fall on the flop when I have a different suit in the hole. Why do faces and aces fall on the board when I am dealt low cards, but low cards fall on the board when I get aces and faces, and yet when I get hands like A-2 or K-3, the board will show cards in the middle range. Why do I get so many deuces on the blinds? Why do I get a hundred times more deuces than aces in the hole?

Jigger Jones

Jigger, it is a statistical fact that someone has to be the unluckiest person in the world. I submit that you are it and that answers each and every one of your questions. Make sure not to go skydiving or take a law class with a rigid Socratic professor anytime soon. On the flip side, you drew an amazing name in the game of life.

From Jessica:
Steve, do any women read this blog? Given that you associate with wealthy guys that wish to live as bums my guess is a resounding no. Get a life.

Jessica, according to Google 84% of my readers are male. I have no idea how they have data for this. I apologize for my lack of life.

From Roman:
Hi! I am very glad that you have a blog … now have the opportunity in touch with you! My name is Roman. I have long been watching your game on PokerStars and me through your soul happy skill to play immediately for 5 tables at a minimum. I am from Russia. I just want to express to you a great Respect, your playing skills are very useful if you observe them!
I would like to ask you to help me, as a good person or even a good student … I have here a situation: my father told me if I make $ 600 in any manner for a week, then he would buy me a car, and I dream about it for over two years. So could you lend me $ 100-150? I certainly do not ask all the $ 600 because I am ashamed. I know that for you is a very small amount and you funny to look at these phrases, but still … Please understand me from the heart! If the $ 600 it will be simply impossible, I will be happy until the end of his days! glad you all my life …. Yes, even if $ 150 is also a pride for me … I have them try the same tricks to collect up to $ 600 as you do it ….
I know that you take the right decision …. Thank you great!

Roman, An interesting proposition from your father to you and I wonder again if it qualifies as a legal contract. If it does, then surely a gift from me to you of $150 would not qualify towards your $600 goal. Clearly the $600 is not a goal to be achieved to pay for the car, it is simply to prove that you have what it takes to repay his car loan. As a future member of the bar I cannot take part in defrauding your poor father. I was going to give you the money but you told me that you know I will take the right decision, the decision I am taking is to not take advantage of your fathers generosity.

From Jimmy:
Steve, I need advice. Recently my girlfriend has been ignoring me. I am 19 years old and a very successful poker player. I made 1000 dollars last month. She said she wants someone older so I sent her flowers to declare my love and show off my maturity. To make a very long story short, it didn’t work and she still is not answer my calls. I tried waiting outside her dorm room and that just made her angrier. Why isn’t she impressed by my dedication??

Jimmy, sorry man, that’s brutal

From anxioiu
I would like poker from you gift me cards. Life is cards if I am aces and I am not kings

Yup, these are my readers

I have now been on Team Pokerstars Online for 1 month. Being on the team has allowed for some exciting adjustments to my game. I have been playing mostly o8 which is not atypical for me, however rather than playing 1 or 2 high-stakes tables I am playing 5-8 medium-stakes tables at any given time. This approach offers several large benefits. The obvious couple for me are that it allows me to accumulate far more VPPS and also reduces variance. Another benefit is that it allows a much wider variety of players to play with me since I’m playing as low as 5 10. I have gotten to play with many of my fans over the last few weeks and I always enjoy it so don’t hesitate to say hi at the tables.

I will continue to play low and medium stakes to make myself accessible to everyone. Additionally, as was the case with the previous blog, I am happy to blog about subjects on which you would like my analysis. Let me know at the table or feel free to comment on here and I’ll use some of the best blog ideas in my future writing.

Some other exciting announcements from my life. I have begun work on a poker/law novel set largely at the Borgata Hotel and Casino. My unique knowledge of both fields should make the story vivid, realistic and interesting. The added Team Online notoriety will allow this book to hopefully go into wide distribution next year. Additionally I just finished my first semester of law school and my second is starting now. If you have questions about any of these subjects, I’m happy to talk with you. Thank you for reading and come play with me on Pokerstars!